Alleppey City Overview
Define Alleppey from a
backpackers perspective
. Feel free to edit existing content or add your own.
City Overview
The Backwaters region of Kerala is one of southern India’s most intriguing and colourful areas, and the pleasant market town of Alleppey lies right in its heart. Once known as the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey is criss-crossed with canals and dotted with thousands of coconut palms. With the Arabian sea to the west and a vast number of lakes, rivers and lagoons in every other direction, it’s water that makes up the character of this town. The network of waterways around Alleppey not only provides some wonderful cruising on traditional houseboats, but they are also home to an incredible diversity of birds and other wildlife. At the centre of it all is the impressive Vembanad lake, where visitors can check out the migratory birds at the neighbouring bird sanctuary or simply cruise around the waters enjoying the leisurely pace of life. Culturally, there are a number of interesting palaces and temples nearby dating from the last raja period in the 1800s, as well as a handful of early Syrian Christian churches from the 1st century AD. Alleppey itself has some nice examples of Keralan architecture, and its quaint streets are pleasant to wander around. But most visitors come here to cruise the waters and bask in the tranquil, laid-back atmosphere that characterises the Backwaters.
Comments (0)
